Optometer.



No. 754,223. PATENTED MAR. 8, 1904. W. J. LAUGHLIN.

OPTOMETBR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY ze. 190s.

No MODEL.

PATENTED MAR. 8, 1904.

W. J. LAUGHLIN.

OPTOMETER.

APPLICATION FILED Mu 26. 1903.

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THS Nom-ns Pains PATENTED AMM. 8, 1904'. W. J. LAUGHLIN.

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APPLICATION FILED MAY 26,-1903.

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' /NVENTOH PATENTED MAR. 8, 1904.

' W. J. LAUGHLIN.

OPTOMETER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 26. 1903.

NO MODEL.

110.754,223., PATNTED MAR. 8,'1904.

W. J. LAUGHLIN OPTOMETER APPLIOATION H LBD MAY 2s. 1903.

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ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES ateted Ii/arch S, 1904. i

PAT-ENT. CEEICE.

OPTOIVIETER.

SPCIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 754,223, dated March 87 1904.

Application filed May 26,1903. Serial No. 158,834. (No modela) To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. LAUGHLIN, a citizen ofthe United States, and a resident of Waunakee, in the county of Dane and State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and Improved Optometer, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to optics; and its object is to provide-a new and improved Optometer, arranged to enable the optician to readrepresented inthe accompanying drawings,

forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a rear elevation of the improvement. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the same on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. l is an enlarged transverse section of the same on the line 44: of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a sectional front elevation of the swing-arm and the graduated segment for the same. Fig. 6 is an enlarged transverse section of the improvement on the line 6 6 of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is an enlarged rear face View of one of thesupports and the slide mounted thereon. Fig. 8 isa sectional view of one of the supports and the pair of disks car- -being on the line 8 8 of Fig. 1.

The main frame A of the instrument is preferably of a rectangular skeleton shape and is provided at its vbottom member A' 'with a transversely-extending arm A2, secured by a set-screw B' or like fastening device in a socket B2, held on the upper end of a rodB, vertically adjustable by any suitable means in a standard B3, attached to a base B'for resting the apparatus on a table, or the saidy standard B3 may be provided with a clamp for holding the apparatus on a table or the like.

The bottom member Al and the top member A3 of the main frame A form guideways for guide-lugs C2 and C3, forming integral parts f of supports C and C', adapted to slide toward and from each other by the operator turning a right and left hand threaded screw-rod D, engaging corresponding nuts D', attached to the supports C and C'. The screw-rod D is provided at its middle with a head D2, adapted to be turned by the operator to move the supports C and C' simultaneously toward and from each other. The lowermost guide-lugs C3 on the frame member A' form pointers indicating on linear graduations A4, arranged on the said member A'to indicate the pupilary distance between the eyes of the patient l (see Fig. l) by the operator turning the screwrod D correspondingly. s

On the supports C and C' are held centrally studs E and E', on each of whichis mounted a pair of disks F and F', containing spherical power-lenses Gr and G', arranged in a circle, so that any lens in one of the disks can be brought in register with any lens in the other power-lenses, from -l-.12D to -l-.75D, and also a -l-lOD lens. Each of the disks F and F' is'V also provided with a-blank-opening and a-pinhole disk 'Gr2 or G3, as plainly indicated in Figs. 11 and 1 2. rlhe value of the lenses is marked on the disks F and F', and the value of the lenses on the disk F' can be read through openings Gr4 in the disk F, it being understood, however, that the said values are read on a zero-mark C', formed on a cross-bar C2, held on the corresponding support C or C'- that is, the value read at the said zero-point C4 indicates the registering lenses in alinement at the time with the corresponding eyepiece H or H'. The lenses G and Gr', registering at the time at the corresponding eyepiece H or H'., can be used in connectionwith a pair of registering lenses I and I', arranged in circles in disksJ and J', of which the lenses I are arranged in a circle on the disk J and the lenses I' are arranged in a correspond-ing circle on the disk J', the disks J and J being located one in front of the other and in the rear of the disk F, as plainly indicated in the drawings. The lenses J and J' give the cylindrical powers from .25D to 5.75I), both plus and minus, as will be readily understood by reference to Figs. 13, 14. and 15.

The disk J (see Fig. 6) is provided with a hub J 2, mounted to turn in a bearing K', held on an arm K, mounted to swing from an apertured pivot L', secured on a segment L, attached to an arm C, forming part of the corresponding support C or C'. On the end of the hub J2 is secured a knob J 3, under the control of the operator, for turning the disk J to bring the desired lens I into alinement with the corresponding eyepiece H or H. The other disk,'J', is provided with a shaft J4, mounted to turn in the hub J2 and provided at its outer end with a knob J 5 for turning the disk J to bring a lens I' in register with the lens I in alinement at the time with the eyepiece and the opening 1n the pivot L'. Now by the operator turning the disks F F' and J J' any desired combination of lenses may be brought into register at the corresponding eyepiece H or H'. In order to hold the disks F and F' against accidental turning after they are set to a desired lens-power, springs F2 are provided, (see Fig. 9,) attached to the corresponding support C or C' and inl engagement at their free ends with notches on the peripheral faces of the disks F and F'. Similar springs J6 (see Fig. 16) are attached to the arms K to engage notches in the peripheral surfaces of the disks J and J to hold the latter against accidental turning. Each of the arms K is provided with a handle K2 to allow the operator to swing the arm, and with it the pair of lenses J and J', on the pivot L' as the fulcrum, so as to change the axis of the corresponding lenses at the time in register with the aperturev in the pivot L' and the eyepiece H or H'.

On the bearing K' is secured a pointer K4, indicating on a graduation L2, formed on the segment L to indicate degrees from zero at the middle of the graduation to ninety degrees at the ends thereof, it being understood that the axes of the lenses I and I' radiate from the axes of the disks, and by swinging the arm K on the segment L any desired degree of axis may be obtained.

By reference to the drawings it will be seen that the bearing K' of the arm K extends through a segmental slot L4 in the segment L and the pointer K4 is in alinement with the arm K2, and the latter serves as the indexfinger for setting the disks J and J', according to the value of the lenses marked on the said disks for giving the power of the lenses I and I'.

Each of the supports C and C' is provided with a shutter N, having a handle N', adapted to be moved by the operator, so as to open or close the eyepiece H or H' in the corresponding support C or C'. The handle N' extends through an elongated slot C7 in the support C or C',(see Fig. 2,) and the shutter N is provided with an elongated slot N2, through which passes a stud E or E' to properly guide the shutter when moved into an open or closed Mposition' relative to the eyepiece H or H'.

In order to allow of properly cleaning the lenses Gr in the disks F', each of the supports C and C' is provided with an aperture C8 in register with the said lenses, and in order to allow of cleaning the lenses I and I' in the disks J and J it is necessary to swing the arms K into a lowermost position to project portions of the disks J and J' beyond the peripheral faces of the disks F to give access to the lenses I and I'.

On the arm A' of the main frame A is formed a vertically-disposed bearing A", in which is mounted to slide vertically a post C, carrying at its upper end a horizontally-disposed bearing O', in which is fitted the bar P'. of a nose- IOC piece P for engaging the nose of the patient to enable the optician to obtain proper measurement of the height and inclination of the bridge of the spectacles to be made for the patient. For the purpose mentioned the post O is provided with a graduation, and a similar graduation is on the bar P', and the post C can be moved up and down in its bearing A5 by the operator, and the post is held in the adjusted position by a spring A, forming one side of the bearing A5 and pressing against the corresponding side of the post O. The bar P' of the nose-piece P is moved inward and outward by the operator, and the bar is held against accidental movement after it is adjusted by a spring O2, forming one side of the bearing O' and pressing the corresponding side of the bar P'. (See Fig. 3.)

A reading-card Q is removably held .in a clamp Q', fulcrumed at Q2 on a slide R, mounted to slide on a bar R', secured by aset-screw R2 in the socket B2`at the upper end of the rod B, previously referred to. Now by the arrangement described the reading-card Q can be swung up in a vertical position when it is desired to test the patients eyes as to reading, and the said card can be swung down IIC IZO

into a horizontal position to be out of the sight of the patient at the time the instrument is used for testing the eyes as todistance.

'in using thedevice the optician first turns the screw-red D to adjust the supports C and C' nearer to or farther from each other, according to the pupilary distance of the eyes oi' the patient, 'to bring the eyepieces H and H in proper position for the patients eyes. The disks F and F in each pair of disks on a support are now turned by the operator, using the fingers on the roughened outer surfaces of the disks to bring a desired pair of lenses into axial alinement with the corresponding eyepiece, or, if' necessary, one disk with the blank-opening therein is brought into axial alinement with the eyepiece and the other disk turned to bring a desiredV lens in register with the blank-opening and eyepiece, or a pin-hole blank may be moved in position. The operator next turns the disks J and J correspondingly to bring the desired lens or combination of two lenses I and I into axial alinement with the corresponding eyepiece and the registering lenses already in position. it is understood that an adjustment of the disks as described is made on each support to determine the visional powers of the eyes of the patient. One eye can be examined independently of the other, and in this case use is made of vthe shutters N for closing one eyepiece whilethe other is left open. Now by the arrangement described the optieian is enabled to set the instrument for obtaining in a very convenient manner all spherical powers from .12 D to 2O D, both plus and minus, and all cylindrical powers from .25 1) to 5.7 5 D, both plus and minus. By reference to Figs. 11, 12, 14, and 15 it will be seen that like unit and fractional powers .are found on the disks of a pair of disks, so that by combining unit and fractional vpowers at the eyepiece any desired power from 1 D to 10 D can be obtained. The 10 D lens With'the fractional powers is intended to be combined withlike unit power- (lenses on the opposite disk to produce unit sewers 'from 11 l) to 20 l) both plus and minus. By having the axis of each cylindrical power-lens I or l' set toward the center of the corresponding disk J or J it is evident that by swinging the arm K on the pivot L' the axis is changed relative tothe line of vision. l do not, however, limit myselfl to the powers of the lenses indicatedand described, as the same may be varied Without deviating from the invention. For instance, plus unit and fractional powers may be -.placed on the same disks or wheels and plus, minus, and fractionall powers on corresponding disks or wheels to obtain mixed numbers by subtraction, as +1.25, -3.7 5, &c., instead of by addition.

\ Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. An optometer comprising a frame, supports movable toward and lfrom each other on the said frame, and a pair of disks on each I support, mounted to turn independent one of A minus unit power-lenses, plus fractional p'ower-lenses and aplus 10 D lens, asset forth.

2. An 'optometer provided with supportera pairof disks mounted to turn independent one of the other on the same axis, on each of the said supports, spherical power-lenses in each disk, arranged in a circle,^the lenses in one disk being adapted to register with'the lenses inthe other disk, a second pair ofdisks, arms mounted to swing on the said supports, eccentric to the first-named disks, thesaid second pair of disks being mounted to turn on the same axis, but independent one of the other, on the said arms, and cylindrical power-lenses set in a circle in the said second pair of disks and adapted to register with each other and with the spherical power-lenses, as set forth.

3. An optometer provided with supports, a pair of disks mounted to turn independent one `of the other on the same axis, on each of the said supports, spherical power-lensesin each disk, arranged in a circle, the lenses in onedisk being adapted to register with the lenses in the other disk. a second pair of disks, arms mounted to swing on the said supports, eccentric to the first-named disks, the said second pair of disks being mounted to turn on thesame axis, but independent one of the other, on the said arms, cylindrical power-lenses set in a circle in the said second pair of disks and adapted to register with each other and with the spherical power-lenses, and eyepieees on the said supports, in-alinement with the registering lenses, as set forth.

4. An optometer provided with supportsa pair of disksmounted to tn rn independent one of the other on the same axis, on each of the said supports, spherical power-lenses in each disk, arranged ina circle, the lenses in one disk being adapted to register with the lensesl the spherical power-lenses,`and graduated segments iixed on the supports and having ho'l- IOO low pivots for the arms to swingen, the latter indicating on the said segments, as set forth.

5. An optometer provided with supports, a pair of disks mounted to turn independent one of the other on the same axis, oneach of the said supports, spherical power-lenses in each ,tric to the first-named disks,

disk, arranged in a circle, the lenses in one disk being adapted to register with the lenses in the other disk, a second pair of disks, arms mounted to swing on the said supports, eccentric to the irst-nameddisks, the said second pair of disks being mounted to turn on the same axis, but independent one of the other, on the said arms, and cylindrical power-lenses set in a circle in the said second pair of disks and adapted to register with each other and with the spherical power-lenses, the axes of the said arms corresponding with the axes of the said registering lenses, as set forth.

6. An optometer provided with supports, a pair of disks mounted to turn independent one of the other on the same axis, on each of the said supports, spherical power-lenses in each disk, arranged in a circle, the lenses in one disk being adapted toregister with the lenses in the other disk, a second pair of disks, arms mounted to swing on the said supports, eccenthe said second pair of disks being mounted to turn on the same axis, but independent one of the other, on the said arms, cylindrical power-lenses set in a circle in the said second pair of disks and adapted to register with each other and with the spherical power-lenses, graduated segments fixed on the supports and having hollow pivots for the arms to swing on, the lat ter indicating on the said segments, ers on the said arms, indicating on the graduation of the said segments, as set forth.

7. An optometer having a pair of disks, one in front of the other, mounted to turn inde pendentone of the other on the same axis, and spherical power-lenses arranged in coinciding circles inthe disks, the lenses in one of the disks being plus unit power-lenses, minus fraction power-lenses and a minus D lens, and the lenses in the other disk being minus unit power-lenses, plus fraction power-lenses and a plus D lens, as set forth.

8. An optometer having a pair of independently-revolving disks, carrying registering spherical power-lenses, an arm mounted to swing and having its axis in alinement with the axis of a pair of registering lenses in the said disks, and asecond pair of disks, mounted to turn independent one of the other on the said arm and having registering cylindrical power-lenses adapted to register with the said pair of registering spherical power-lenses, as set forth.

9. An optometer having apair of independently--revolving disks, carrying registering spherical power-lenses, an arm mounted to swing and having its axis in alinement with the axisof a pair of registering lenses in the said disks, a second pair of disks, mounted to turn independent one of the other on the said arm and having registering cylindrical powerlenses adapted to register with thc said pair of registering spherical power-lenses, and a and point-V graduated segment, a second fixed graduated segment, on which the said arm indicates, as set forth.

10. In an optometer,asupporting-standard, a rod adjustable vertically in said standard, a frame provided with a transversely-extending arm secured to the 'upper end of said rod, lenssupports movable toward and from each other on the said frame, a vertically-disposed bearing on the said arm of the frame, a graduated mounted to slide in said bearing, and a nose-piece mo'unted to'slide in a horizontallydisposed bearing at the upper end of said post and extending between the said lens-supports, as set forth.

11. A frame, lens-supports slidable on the said frame, toward and from each other, a graduated post slidable in the said frame, a nose-piece slidable transversely on the said post, between the said supports, and springs for holding the post and the nose-piece in position in their bearings, as set forth.

12. A frame, lens-supports slidable on the said frame towardand from each other, a`

graduated post slidable vertically in a bearing on the said frame, a nose-piece slidable transversely in a bearing on the said post, and springs forming one side of said bearings and pressing against the corresponding sidesof the post and nose-piece, as set forth.

13. An optometer comprising a frame, supports on the said frame, eyepieces held on the said supports, a pair of disks mounted to turn.

on each support, the disks of each pair being` adapted to be turned independent one of the other, spherical power-lenses set in a circlein the said disks, the lenses of one disk in a pair registering with the lenses in the other disk, a graduated segment on each support, carrying a hollow pivot, in axial alinement with the corresponding eyepiece, a pair of registering lenses on the said disks, an arm mounted to swing on the said pivot and indicating on the pair of disks mounted to turn independent one of the other on the said arm, and cylindrical power-lenses set in a circle on the said second pair of disks, one pair of registering cylindrical power lenses being at the time in axial alinementV with the corresponding' eyepiece and the said pivot, as set forth. 14. An optometer comprising a frame, sup ports on the said frame, eyepieces held on the said supports, a pair of disks mounted to turn on each support, the disks of each pair being adapted to be turned independent one of the other, spherical power-lenses set in a circle in the said disks, the lenses of one disk in apair registering with the lenses in the other disk, a graduated segment on each support, carrying a hollow pivot, in axial alinement with the` IOS mounted to turn independent one of the other on the said arm, cylindrical power-lenses set in a circle on the said second pair of disks, one pair of registering cylindrical. power-lenses being at the time in axial alinement with the corresponding eyepiece and the said pivot, and a vright and left hand screwA screwing in the said supports, for movingthe same simultaneously toward and from each other, as set forth.

15. An optometer comprising a frame, supports movable toward and from each other on the said frame, and a pair of disks on each. support, mounted to turn independent one of the other, one of the disks having@ plus unit power-lenses from plus 1 D to plus 10 D, minus fraction power-lenses,fand a minus 10 D lens, and the other disk having minus unit powerlenses from minus 1 D to minus 10 D, plus fraction power-lenses, and a plus 10 D lens, whereby the instrument may be setto obtain allthe spherical powers to 2() D both plus and minus, asset forth.

16. An optometer having a pair of disks one in front of the other and mounted to turn independent one of theother, and cylindrical power-lenses arranged in coinciding circles in the, disks, one of the disks having plus unit power-lenses from plus 1 D to plus 5 D and minus fraction power-lenses from minus 25 D to minus .7 5 D, 'and the other disk having minus unit power-lenses from minus l D to minus 5 D and plus fraction power-lenses from plus .25 D to plus .75 D, as set forth.

17 An optometer provided with supports, arms lnounted to swing on said supports, a pair of disks mounted to turn on the same axis, but independent one of the other, on each of said arms, cylindrical power-lenses set in a circle in the said pair of disks, to alpower-lenses in eachdisk arranged in a circle,

the lenses in one dis being adapted to register with the lenses in the other disk, the lenses of one of said disks comprising plus unit power-lenses from plus 1 Dto plus 1.0 D, minus fraction power-lenses from minus .12 D to minus .75 D and a minus 10 D lens the lenses of the other disk comprising minus unit -power-lenses from minus 1 D to minus 1() D, plus fraction power-lenses from plus .12 D to plus .75 D, and a plus 10 D lens, a second pair left hand screw extending between the lenssupports and engaging said nuts, the lower guide-lugs on said lens -supports forming pointers indicating on graduations arranged on the bottom portion ofthe frame to indicate the pupilary distance, as set forth.

20. In an optometer, a frame having top and bottom members, a support for the said frame,

lens-supports having guide-lugs engaging the top and bottom members of said frame, the said lens-supports being slidable toward and from Veach other, nuts carried by said lens-supports,

and a right and left hand screw engagin'gisaid nuts and provided at its middle portion, between the lens-supports, with a head for turning the said screw, the bottom member of the frame being provided with graduations, and the-lower guide-lugs of the lens-supports formingv pointers indicating on the said graduations, as set forth.

21. In an optometer, a supporting-standard, a rod adjustable-vertically in said standard and having a transverse socket at its upper end, a frame having an arm secured in one end of the said socket, a bar secured in the other end of the socket, a slide mounted to move on said bar' and adapted to carry a reading-card, and lens supports carried by thel frame, as set forth.

22. An optometer comprising a support, a rod adjustable vertically in said support, a frame having an arm secured to the upper end ofsaid rod, an adjustable nose-piece carried by the arm, a bar also secured to the upper end ot' said rod, and carrying an adjustable reading-card, and lens-supports carried by the said frame, as set Jforth.

23. An optometer comprising a frame, supports movable toward and from each other on the said frame and a pair of disks on each support mounted to turn independent one of the other, one of the disks havingplus'unit powerlenses from plus 1 D to plus 10 D, minus fraction power-lenses from minus .12 D to minus .75 D, and a minus 10 D lens, and the other disk having minus unit power-lenses from minus 1 D to minus 1() D, plus fraction powerlenses from plus .12 D to plus .75 D, and a plus 10 D lens, for the purpose set forth.

24. An optometer'provided with supports,

IOO

arms mounted to swing on said supports a pair l In testimony whereof I have signed my name of disks mounted to turn on the seme axes but to this specification in the presence of two subindependent one of the other, on eeeh of said scribing witnesses.

arms, and cylindrical power-lensesarranged VILLAM J. LAUGHLIN. in coinciding circles in the disks, said lenses Witnesses: giving the cylindrical powers from .25 D to JOHN PAPE,

5.75 U both plus and minus, as set forth. JAS. F. TAYLOR. 

